41 Results

The Gillard government is pressing ahead with its referendum on local government; a draft amendment was issued last week. But is it being straight with the public on what the change would actually mean?

Crikey readers talk replacing a governor-general, teachers’ pay and Australia’s population.

Crikey readers talk 457 visa holders, local government and the myth of the public airways.

Election results in Sydney, Melbourne and the ACT point to moderately good news for Labor — and the Greens will take some comfort from their inner-city results. Is the anti-incumbency vibe waning?

The High Court’s decision yesterday on the Williams schools chaplains case isn’t exactly a bombshell, but it will make life for the Commonwealth a little more difficult — and unnecessarily so.

Australian councils, possibly half, are jacking up their rates on existing residents to pay for the cost of new residents, writes Adam Creighton, research fellow (Economics Program) at the Centre for Independent Studies.

Local government is about more than roads, rates and rubbish. But it’s not about international diplomacy, one Sydney mayor and president of the local government alliance insists. So what good is a new-age council?

Bob Gosford investigates the local government reforms recently undertaken in the Northern Territory, finding incompetence and confusion clouding the implementation of a new IT system.

According to one tip-off today, a federal agency is the talk of the town after forking out $50,000 for a recent two night/three day sojourn at a luxury Southern Highlands resort for the entire staff.

Planning no longer operates under this system of fairness — not when the Education Revolution is on the agenda, writes Cr Claude Ullin, mayor of the City of Stonnington.

In parts of Australia, local government politicians are being prevented, under threat of legal action, from talking to the media. It’s ridiculous, undemocratic and probably illegal, says Margaret Simons.

Federal Energy Minister Martin Ferguson has taken a blowtorch to loyal ALP supporters in his own electorate, using a taxpayer-funded letter to slam a push for zero emissions as “faith based”.

The Brumby Government is introducing a staffers’ code to insulate itself from controversy. Ministerial staff will be banned from holding office as a local Government Councillor.

We should all be thankful that the Greens council which makes the decisions at Byron Shire isn’t in charge of Venice, writes Ian Evans.

Yesterday’s damning eyewitness account of in-the-flesh flouting of Victorian ALP party rules was overseen by sacked Justin Madden staffer Hakki Suleyman, writes Andrew Crook.

Extensive and apparently systemic rorting of ALP membership rules in Victoria has continued despite the Brimbank scandal.

John Brumby’s decision to sideline notorious numbers man George Seitz will have little impact in faction-ridden Victoria.

While Liberal and Labor councillors are at each other’s throats all over NSW, not so in Rockdale, where they work hand-in-glove.

Two Sydney communities with vastly different demographics were the scene of anger meltdowns this week over the common issue of local democracy.

Readers weigh in on pokies, local government, Bob Ellis and more.

The parlous state of Labor-controlled councils in Victoria suggests John Brumby’s mob is more than capable of imploding on its own.